Scouting the Seattle Mariners’ next general manager

In Kevin Mather’s media tour following last week’s firing of Jack Zduriencik, the Mariners president revealed that experience will be among his most important criteria in his search for the club’s next general manager.

“We’re not going to take three years to learn on the job,” Mather said Friday, citing the need to maximize the talent of Felix Hernandez, Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano while the trio are in their prime.

Mather won’t dither in finding Zduriencik’s replacement. He was open about his timetable during his teleconference, saying his plan is to come up with eight to 10 candidates, shorten the list by the end of the regular season and have a new hire by sometime in October.

Will the Mariners next GM be the one to break the playoff drought that dates back to 2001?

Such is the urgency for an organization without a playoff appearance since 2001. Mather admitted that he waited “too long” to fire Zduriencik while holding out hope this season’s Mariners (61-71) could reel off a modest hot streak and enter the wide open American League playoff race. After being hired in January 2014, Mather gave Zduriencik a two-year contract extension that August, only to see the Mariners be eliminated from the playoffs on the final day of the regular season.

The offseason acquisition of Nelson Cruz was one of a handful of reasons to think the Mariners would improve on their 87-75 record from last year.

The front office executive said he wants a general manager well-versed in sabermetrics who can help raise morale within the organization after Zduriencik engineered a reportedly dysfunctional working environment where employees were routinely disparaged or disregarded altogether.

Mather has said he’s “not a baseball guy” and will seek counsel in making a final decision, though CEO Howard Lincoln will surely also have input (much to the chagrin of a beleaguered Mariners fan base).

Background: <b>Pat Gillick</b> was the Mariners general manager from 2000-03. Seattle won at least 91 games in each of those seasons, and made two trips to the American League Championship (2000, 2001). In 2001, the Mariners tied a MLB record with 116 wins. Gillick has also been a GM for the Blue Jays (1978-94), Orioles (1996-98), Mariners and Phillies (2006-08). less

Background: <b>Pat Gillick</b> was the Mariners general manager from 2000-03. Seattle won at least 91 games in each of those seasons, and made two trips to the American League Championship (2000, 2001). In ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Gillick, 78, is currently serving as the president of the woeful Philadelphia Phillies. There's been rumors the Mariners may try to bring him back to Seattle in an overseer role, according to The (Tacoma) News Tribune, so he wouldn't necessarily be asked to go it alone. Gillick would bring instant credibility -- he's a member of the Hall of Fame (2011), but it's unclear if he wants to stay in baseball after he announced earlier this summer that he'd retire at the end of the season. less

Gillick, 78, is currently serving as the president of the woeful Philadelphia Phillies. There's been rumors the Mariners may try to bring him back to Seattle in an overseer role, according to The (Tacoma) News ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Background: Former Los Angeles Angels general manager <b>Jerry Dipoto</b> has been an interim evaluator for the Boston Red Sox after resigning from his post with the Angels in July. Though he is well-respected for his use of analytics and scouting acumen, Dipoto clashed with Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who has an old-school mindset. Hired in October 2011, Dipoto got off to a fast start that winter when he signed first baseman Albert Pujols to a 10-year, $254-million deal. But the Angels didn't make the playoffs until last season and were bounced by the Kansas City Royals (3-0) in the ALDS. He was a finalist for the Mariners' open GM spot in 2008 before the club hired Zduriencik. less

Background: Former Los Angeles Angels general manager <b>Jerry Dipoto</b> has been an interim evaluator for the Boston Red Sox after resigning from his post with the Angels in July. Though he is well-respected ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Mather said he wants a general manager with experience but who is also plugged into sabermetrics. Dipoto fills both criteria, but he'll have to explain his rocky exit with the Angels and bad relationship with Scioscia, one of the most respected managers in the game. There was also that time he signed Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125-million contract despite the slugger's extensive injury history and battle with drug abuse. It was a major risk that backfired. less

Mather said he wants a general manager with experience but who is also plugged into sabermetrics. Dipoto fills both criteria, but he'll have to explain his rocky exit with the Angels and bad relationship with ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Background: <b>Kevin Towers</b> is the Cincinnati Reds special assistant to the GM, but he served as the San Diego Padres GM from 1995-09 and in the same role with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2010 until he was fired last September. less

Background: <b>Kevin Towers</b> is the Cincinnati Reds special assistant to the GM, but he served as the San Diego Padres GM from 1995-09 and in the same role with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2010 until he ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Towers is a proponent of baseball's unwritten rules, once telling a Phoenix radio station that he wanted the D-Backs pitching staff to go "eye for an eye" if their players were hit by a pitch. "If you didn't follow suit or you don't feel comfortable doing it," he said. "you probably don't belong in a Diamondbacks uniform." Such abrasive tendencies might not be a good fit for a front office seeking cohesion in the wake of Zduriencik's ouster. less

Towers is a proponent of baseball's unwritten rules, once telling a Phoenix radio station that he wanted the D-Backs pitching staff to go "eye for an eye" if their players were hit by a pitch. "If you didn't ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Background: <b>Dan O'Dowd</b> had a rather unremarkable 15-year run as the Colorado Rockies general manager, except for the Rockies' miraculous World Series appearance in 2007 before they were swept by the Red Sox. Other bright spots: Players such as Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki, Jeff Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez were all developed under O’Dowd’s leadership. In 2009, he won Sporting News’ Executive of the Year Award, but left his post last October. He now serves as an analyst on MLB Network. less

Background: <b>Dan O'Dowd</b> had a rather unremarkable 15-year run as the Colorado Rockies general manager, except for the Rockies' miraculous World Series appearance in 2007 before they were swept by the Red ... more

Photo: Denver Post via Getty Images

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O'Dowd had just four winning seasons in 15 years as the Rockies GM, twice making the playoffs. According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Mariners have already reached out to O'Dowd, but it's hard to see how hiring an executive with middling success would do much to energize the fan base. less

O'Dowd had just four winning seasons in 15 years as the Rockies GM, twice making the playoffs. According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Mariners have already reached out to O'Dowd, but it's hard to see ... more

Photo: Denver Post via Getty Images

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Background: <b>Ken Williams</b>, the Chicago White Sox executive vice president since 2012, was linked as a possible replacement to Zduriencik by USA Today's Bob Nightengale. Prior to being promoted to VP in 2012, Williams was a successful GM for the White Sox, helping build a roster that won the World Series in 2005. less

Background: <b>Ken Williams</b>, the Chicago White Sox executive vice president since 2012, was linked as a possible replacement to Zduriencik by USA Today's Bob Nightengale. Prior to being promoted to VP in ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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If the Mariners are pursuing Williams, they might need to offer him a stake in the team or a role alongside Mather. It wouldn't make sense for Williams to take a lesser role with the Mariners after ascending to the White Sox front office. less

If the Mariners are pursuing Williams, they might need to offer him a stake in the team or a role alongside Mather. It wouldn't make sense for Williams to take a lesser role with the Mariners after ascending ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Background: Former Boston Red Sox GM <b>Ben Cherington</b> resigned in August after the club hired Dave Dombrowksi as the club president. Cherington had an up-and-down run in Boston, leading the Red Sox to a World Series in 2013 but also finishing last in 2012 and 2014. It appears Boston will again finish last this season. less

Background: Former Boston Red Sox GM <b>Ben Cherington</b> resigned in August after the club hired Dave Dombrowksi as the club president. Cherington had an up-and-down run in Boston, leading the Red Sox to a ... more

Photo: Boston Globe via Getty Images

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Cherington, 41, is expected to land somewhere. But his flawed construction of the Red Sox' 2015 roster raises some major red flags. In their first seasons in Boston, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval have been total disasters after Cherington signed both to massive long-term contracts this past offseason. less

Cherington, 41, is expected to land somewhere. But his flawed construction of the Red Sox' 2015 roster raises some major red flags. In their first seasons in Boston, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval have been ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Background: <b>Jeff Kingston</b> was named the Mariners' interim GM last week when Zduriencik was fired. He made his first major move Monday, <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/2015/08/31/report-seattle-mariners-trade-cf-austin-jackson-to-chicago-cubs/">trading center fielder Austin Jackson</a> to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later and about $210,000 that can be used for international signings. Kingston was hired as the club's assistant general manager in 2009, and could get an interview for Zdurincik's spot. At the least, he's expected to be interim GM through the rest of the regular season. less

Background: <b>Jeff Kingston</b> was named the Mariners' interim GM last week when Zduriencik was fired. He made his first major move Monday, <a ... more

Photo: AP

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While Kingston may garner some consideration, know this: <b>Jason McLeod</b>, senior vice president of player development for the Cubs, was the first executive rumored to replace Zduriencik (ESPN's Peter Gammons in July). Working under Theo Epstein, McLeod oversaw the Cubs farm system as it went through a thorough rebuild. It may be hard to lure the him away from Chicago, though. In June 2014, he withdrew his name from the San Diego Padres' then-open general manager spot. less

While Kingston may garner some consideration, know this: <b>Jason McLeod</b>, senior vice president of player development for the Cubs, was the first executive rumored to replace Zduriencik (ESPN's Peter ... more